Population Fluctuations of Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) in the State of Jalisco, Mexico, During 2004–2017

The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is the most important game bird in central and northern Mexico, especially in the state of Jalisco. However, nothing is known about the dynamics of their populations during the nonbreeding season. To obtain an insight into these dynamics in Jalisco, Mourning Doves were counted every winter season from 2004/2005 to 2016/2017 along 10 routes throughout the state. Of these routes, only the data from eight were analyzed, because the two on the Pacific Coast were practically devoid of Mourning Doves. The data indicate Mourning Dove abundance in Jalisco during the nonbreeding winter season: (1) might reflect U.S. population changes two summers earlier, and (2) be significantly reduced from the 2004/2005 to 2014/2015 winter seasons, in part due to decreases in the U.S. central population, but seemingly also due to local, regional, or extra-regional processes yet to be understood.